Cleaning device made of foam having an abrasive surface

ABSTRACT

A cleaning device ( 4, 4   a,    4   b,    4′   b,    4   c,    4′   c,    4   d,    4′   d ) for cleaning surfaces, comprising a main body ( 5, 5   a,    5   b,    5   c,    5   d ) made of foam, is characterized, in regard to the task of designing and improving a cleaning device of the type mentioned above such that it has an abrasive surface with which liquid, but at the same time hair and dirt particles, can be reliably collected, in that flock material ( 2, 2   d ) is assigned to the main body ( 5, 5   a,    5   b,    5   c,    5   d ) and the flock material ( 2, 2   d ) is arranged on a surface ( 6, 6   a,    6   b,    6   c,    6   d ) of the main body ( 5, 5   a,    5   b,    5   c,    5   d ) which can face a floor surface to be cleaned.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a U.S. National Phase Application based onInternational PCT/EP2012/004876 filed Nov. 26, 2012 and also claimspriority to German Patent Application Serial No. DE 10 2012 004 331.7filed Mar. 7, 2012, the entire disclosures of which are herebyincorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a cleaning device according to the preamble ofclaim 1.

PRIOR ART

Cleaning devices for floor cleaning which comprise a main body made offoam are known from the prior art.

The main body is advantageously capable of soaking up liquid anddelivering it to a floor surface to be cleaned. A main body of this typecan also be easily wrung out and thereby emptied of water. A main bodymade of foam which is not filled with liquid can absorb a liquid filmfrom a floor surface by virtue of capillary action.

In practical applications, it is frequently necessary to remove stubborndirt from a floor surface. It is also frequently necessary to gather andremove breadcrumbs, hair or grains of sand from a floor surface.

The cleaning devices known from the prior art often fail to meet theaforementioned requirements.

In light of the above, a cleaning device is known from US 2004/0187241A1 which is relatively cumbersome to manipulate, since bristles arearranged separately on a handle.

When these bristles become damaged or worn, essential parts of thecleaning device must be replaced. Moreover, because the bristles arerelatively inflexible in design, they are difficult to clean.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is therefore to design and develop acleaning device of the type described in the introductory section suchthat it has an abrasive surface that can also be used to reliablycollect both liquid and hair and dirt particles.

This object is achieved by the present invention with the features ofclaim 1.

A cleaning device according to the invention for cleaning surfaces,particularly for floor cleaning, comprises a main body made of foam.

According to the invention, flocked material is allocated to the mainbody, with the flocked material being arranged on a surface of the mainbody that can be turned to face a floor surface to be cleaned.

The invention utilizes the knowledge that flocked material hasrelatively hard and resilient fibers which can have an abrasive effect.The flocked material can be used to remove stubborn dirt from a floorsurface. Furthermore, a suitable arrangement of the flocked material canensure that hair, crumbs and/or dirt particles will be collected by theflocked material. The invention utilizes the knowledge that the flockedmaterial can give a relatively soft main body made of foam an abrasivecharacter. Specifically, it is acknowledged that the advantages of thefoam, namely the water storage capacity thereof, can be combined withthe advantages of a hard surface, namely the flocked material.

Since the flocking is applied to a standard wiping surface, the user canapply the flocked regions easily and without assuming anatomicallyuncomfortable contact angles in order to remove dirt.

The lifespan of the flocking is adapted to the lifespan of the foam, sothat when the foam is replaced, the original, good-as-new cleaningcapacity can again be achieved. The flocking is applied to the flexiblefoam. As a result, when the cleaning device is rinsed with water thefibers of the flocked material are more thoroughly cleaned, since theyare able to move relative to one another.

Unexpectedly, a tremendous increase in cleaning ability, specificallymore than 200%, in terms of the removal of stubborn dirt and thecollection of hair, particularly dirt, over that of conventional foam isrealized. This is combined with easy rinsability of the foam and theflocked material.

A cleaning device which attains the above-stated object is therebyprovided.

The flocked material could be arranged in an insular manner and/orisolated in regions on the surface in such a way that the surface is notcompletely covered by flocked material. The insular arrangement ensuresthat channels and/or interstices are created between individual islandsof flocked material. Hairs and particles of dirt can be easily collectedand removed within these channels or interstices. The isolatedarrangement of flocked material in regions on the surface ensures that asufficient amount of the surface is not covered by flocked material. Thepart of the surface not covered by flocked material is available forabsorbing liquid from a floor surface and/or for delivering liquid tothe floor surface.

In light of the above, the flocked material could comprise fibers and anadhesive matrix, wherein the fibers are injected into the adhesivematrix such that unattached ends of the fibers project outward from theadhesive matrix. The fibers injected into the adhesive matrix are verysecurely connected to the adhesive matrix. Moreover, the fibers arearranged tightly adjacent to one another, so that they form a relativelyhard cluster that has an abrasive effect. The unattached ends of thefibers are capable of removing stubborn dirt from a floor surface. Theunattached ends of the fibers can be moved like a brush over a floorsurface.

The flocked material could comprise fibers having a thickness rangingfrom 20 to 100 decitex (dtex). Unexpectedly, it has been found thatfibers of this thickness are stiff enough to have an abrasive effect,while being fine enough for small particles of dirt to collect amongthem, in the manner of a comb.

The flocked material could comprise fibers having an extension length of1 to 3 mm. The extension length is understood as the region of a fiberthat is not encompassed within the adhesive matrix. An extension lengthof 1 to 3 mm ensures that the fibers are sufficiently flexible, but arealso sufficiently hard and rough.

The flocked material could be arranged directly on the main body made offoam. In this specific embodiment, the adhesive matrix is arrangeddirectly on the main body. As a result, the surface of the foam iscovered only by the adhesive matrices. All other regions of the surfaceof the foam are available for absorbing and/or delivering liquid.

The flocked material could be arranged on a layer which is attached tothe main body made of foam. It is therefore specifically possible forfleece or non-woven fabric to be laminated to the main body. In thisspecific embodiment, the flocked material can be easily applied in aspecific pattern to the layer, in a separate production step. With thearrangement of complex patterns, in particular, it is expedient to firstform said patterns on a flat surface made of fleece or non-woven fabric,and to deform the fleece or non-woven fabric once the pattern has beenformed, during attachment to the main body. Complex patterns of flockedmaterial can thereby be easily arranged on a main body having curvedsurfaces.

A gripping or holding means could be arranged on the main body. Thegripping or holding means allows the cleaning device to be easilygripped manually.

The gripping or holding means could be designed as a head with areceptacle for a handle, or could have such a head. This specificembodiment allows a handle to be easily screwed or snapped into thereceptacle. The cleaning device can thereby be easily used for floorcleaning. In particular, the cleaning device can be used as a mop.

The gripping or holding means could be designed as retaining strips,which can be enmeshed with another device. The retaining strips can beinserted into a device in the manner of a rail. The device itself can beequipped with a handle, which allows the finished cleaning device to beeasily guided over a floor surface.

The flocked material could be designed as an elongated edge whichextends along a scrubbing edge of the main body which can be turned toface the floor surface to be cleaned. The elongated edge forms anisolated region of flocked material on the surface of the main body.This specific embodiment allows stubborn dirt to be removed using thescrubbing edge of the main body, while a liquid film can be absorbedfrom the floor surface using an edge that faces away from the scrubbingedge.

In light of the above, a set could comprise a cleaning device of thetype described herein and a dustpan, wherein the dustpan is equippedwith flocked material. In this specific embodiment, a main body made offoam can be wiped off on the inner side walls of the dustpan. Thisallows the flocked material to remove hairs and/or dirt particles fromthe main body and collect them. As described above, flocked material isproduced by injecting fibers into an adhesive matrix. More specifically,the fibers are injected electrostatically into an adhesive, wherein thefibers are preferably 22 dtex, 50 dtex or 100 dtex fibers.

In light of the above, the dustpan could have a supporting edge on whichflocked material is arranged. This would allow dirt to be wiped off themain body during sweeping.

The dustpan could have an upper edge on which flocked material isarranged. The upper edge would have a particularly large wiping surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings show:

FIG. 1A is a plan view of a pattern of flocked material which isarranged in an insular manner and isolated in regions on a layer;

FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the layer according to FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2A is a top view of the layer according to FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2B is an elevational view of a cleaning device in which the layeris attached to a main body made of foam;

FIG. 2C is a detailed view of a region of the cleaning device of FIG.2B;

FIG. 3A is a perspective illustration of a cleaning device for floorcleaning, embodied as a sponge;

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the cleaning device of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 3C is a detail illustration of the cleaning device of FIG. 3A:

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a further cleaning device for floorcleaning, which is equipped with a head for receiving a handle;

FIG. 4B is a detailed illustration of a region of the cleaning device ofFIG. 4A;

FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view of the cleaning device of FIG. 4A;

FIG. 4D is a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of thecleaning device of FIG. 4A, wherein the flocked material is arranged ontwo sides of the main body;

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a further embodiment example of acleaning device, equipped with a handle;

FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of the cleaning device of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment example of thecleaning device of FIG. 5A in which the flocked material is arranged ontwo sides of the main body;

FIG. 5D is a detailed illustration of a region of the cleaning device ofFIG. 5C:

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of a cleaning device, the main body ofwhich is equipped with a scrubbing edge made of flocked material;

FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view of the cleaning device of FIG. 6A;

FIG. 6C is a cross-sectional view of an additional embodiment example ofa cleaning device of FIG. 6A having two opposing scrubbing edges made offlocked material;

FIG. 6D is a detailed illustration of a region of the cleaning devicehaving two scrubbing edges of FIG. 6C;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a dustpan with flocked material;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the dustpan according to FIG. 7,showing sectional plane AA according to FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a further cross-sectional view of the dustpan according toFIG. 7, showing sectional plane BB according to FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 A shows a layer 1, which is provided with a punctiform pattern offlocked material 2. The flocked material 2 is arranged in an insularmanner and/or in isolated regions on the layer 1. Among the points offlocked material 2, open regions 3 are formed, in which hair and/or dirtparticles can be captured.

FIG. 1B shows a cross-sectional illustration of layer 1, from whichflocked material 2 projects to a height of X. The layer 1 can beembodied as textile material, in particular, as fleece or as non-wovenfabric.

FIG. 2A shows the layer 1 according to FIG. 1A, arranged on a cleaningdevice 4 for cleaning surfaces, in particular, for floor cleaning.

FIG. 2B shows a cross-sectional illustration of the cleaning device 4.The cleaning device 4 is for cleaning surfaces, in particular, for floorcleaning, comprising a main body 5 made of foam. Flocked material 2 isallocated to the main body 5, with the flocked material 2 being arrangedon a surface 6 of the main body 5 that can be turned to face a floorsurface to be cleaned. The flocked material 2 projects to a height Xfrom the layer 1 which secures the flocked material 2 on the surface 6of the main body 5.

FIG. 2A shows a region Z, indicated in FIG. 2B. It is illustratedspecifically that the flocked material 2 is arranged in an insularmanner and isolated in regions on the surface 6 such that the surface 6is not completely covered with flocked material 2. The flocked material2 is attached to the surface 6 via the layer 1.

The flocked material 2 comprises fibers and an adhesive matrix, whereinthe fibers are injected into the adhesive matrix such that unattachedends of the fibers project outward from the adhesive matrix. The fibersof the flocked material 2 have a thickness ranging from 20 to 100 dtex.The fibers of the flocked material 2 have a projection length rangingfrom 1 to 3 mm.

FIGS. 3A-3B show a further embodiment of a cleaning device 4 a forcleaning surfaces, in particular, for floor cleaning. FIG. 3A shows aperspective view of the cleaning device 4 a. The cleaning device 4 acomprises a main body 5 a made of foam. Flocked material 2 is allocatedto the main body 5 a with the flocked material 2 being arranged on asurface 6 a of the main body 5 a that can be turned to face a floorsurface to be cleaned.

FIG. 3B shows a cross-sectional view from the side of the cleaningdevice 4 a. The flocked material 2 projects to a height X from the layer1. The region identified as Z is detailed in FIG. 3C. FIG. 3Cspecifically illustrates that the flocked material 2 is arranged on thelayer 1, which is attached to the main body 5 a made of foam.

FIGS. 4A-4D show a further embodiment example of a cleaning device 4 b.Gripping or holding means 7 b are arranged on a main body 5 b. Grippingor holding means 7 b have a head 8 b for holding a handle. The main body5 b is substantially prismatic in design. It has a peg-shaped strip 9 b,which is held in gripping or holding means 7 b by a tongue-and-grooveconnection.

FIG. 4B shows region Z of FIG. 4D in detail. This view indicates thatflocked material 2 projects outward from main body 5 b and is arrangedon the layer 1.

FIG. 4C shows a cross-sectional side view of the cleaning device 4 b. Asis clear from this illustration, the flocked material 2 projects outwardonly from a convex curved surface 6 b of the main body 5 b. The flockedmaterial 2 projects to a height X from the layer 1.

FIG. 4D shows a further embodiment. This view shows a cleaning device4′b, in which flocked material 2 projects outward from both sides of themain body 5 b. More specifically, two opposing, convex curved surfaces 6b of the main body 5 b are each equipped with the layer 1, on whichflocked material 2 is arranged.

Surface 6 b of the main body 5 b is curved outward in a convex shape.The main body 5 b is embodied substantially as a spherical triangle incross-section, with a peg-shaped strip 9 b extending along one edge ofthe spherical triangle.

FIGS. 5A-5D show a further embodiment example of a cleaning device 4 c.

In this cleaning device 4 c, the main body 5 c is held in a bracket-typeconnection by a gripping or holding means 7 c. A handle 10 c is assignedto the gripping or holding means 7 c. The gripping or holding means 7 cis designed as integral with the handle 10 c.

The gripping or holding means 7 c is equipped with pin-type fasteningmeans 11 c, which extend through the main body 5 c. The main body 5 c isattached to a layer 1 c, from which flocked material 2 projects.

FIG. 5B shows a cross-sectional illustration of the cleaning device 4 c.The flocked material 2 projects outward from the main body 5 c on twosurfaces 6 c. The surfaces 6 c are oriented orthogonally to one another.

FIG. 5C shows a further embodiment example. This cleaning device 4′c hasthe main body 5 c, which has three surfaces 6 c with flocked material 2.Flocked material 2 projects outward from each of these surfaces 6 c. Theflocked material 2 projects to a height X from the layer 1 c.

This is shown specifically in FIG. 5D. This view illustrates region Zfrom FIG. 5C. The main body 5 c has three surfaces 6 c. Two surfaces 6 care oriented parallel to one another, and one surface 6 c is alignedorthogonally to the two parallel oriented surfaces 6 c. With this mainbody 5 c, the flocked material 2 can thus project outward in threedirections from the main body 5 c.

FIGS. 6A-6D show a further embodiment example of a cleaning device 4 d.FIG. 6A shows that the flocked material 2 d is designed as an elongatededge which extends along a scrubbing edge 12 d of the main body 5 d,which can be turned to face the floor surface to be cleaned.

FIG. 6B shows that the flocked material 2 d projects outward from twosurfaces 6 d of main body 5 d that are aligned orthogonally to oneanother.

FIG. 6C shows a further embodiment example. This cleaning device 4′d hastwo scrubbing edges 12 d, on each of which flocked material 2 d isarranged as an elongated edge.

FIG. 6D illustrates in detail that the flocked material 2 d is arrangedon a layer 1 d. FIG. 6D shows the region Z, which is identified in FIG.6C. The elongated edge of flocked material 2 d is designed such thatflocked material 2 d projects outward from the main body 5 d in twodirections oriented orthogonally to one another.

In all the embodiments shown in FIG. 1 A to FIG. 6D, layer 1, 1 c and/or1 d can be made of a fleece or a non-woven fabric.

FIG. 7 shows a dustpan 13, in particular for use in a set comprising acleaning device of the type described herein and a dustpan 13. Thedustpan 13 is equipped with a flocked material 2.

As is clear from FIG. 7, the dustpan 13 has a supporting edge 14 onwhich the flocked material 2 is arranged. The flocked material 2 isarranged on outer regions of the supporting edge 14. The dustpan 13 hasan upper edge 15 on which the flocked material 2 is arranged. Theflocked material 2 is arranged on the outer regions of the upper edge15. Moreover, a handle 16 projecting outward in the form of a rod isprovided on the dustpan 13. The dustpan 13 also has a collecting surface17. The flocked material 2 is arranged on the side of the collectingsurface 17.

FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of the dustpan 13 according to FIG.7, illustrating sectional plane AA, indicated in FIG. 7, which extendsthrough the handle 16 of the dustpan 13.

FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of the dustpan 13 according to FIG.7, illustrating sectional plane BB, indicated in FIG. 7, which extendsthrough an outer region of the dustpan 13 which is offset parallel tothe handle 16.

1-12. (canceled)
 13. A cleaning device for cleaning a surface, thecleaning device comprising: a foam main body having flocked materialallocated thereon, wherein the flocked material is arranged on a surfaceof the main body, and wherein the surface of the main body can be turnedto face the surface to be cleaned.
 14. The cleaning device of claim 13,wherein the flocked material is at least one of arranged in an insularmanner and isolated in regions on the surface of the main body whereinthe surface of the main body is not completely covered by the flockedmaterial.
 15. The cleaning device of claim 13, wherein the flockedmaterial further comprises fibers and an adhesive matrix, the fibersinjected into the adhesive matrix wherein unattached ends of the fibersproject outwardly from the adhesive matrix.
 16. The cleaning device ofclaim 15, wherein the flocked material has fibers which range from 20decitex to 100 decitex.
 17. The cleaning device of claim 15, wherein theflocked material has fibers that have a projection length ranging from 1mm to 3 mm.
 18. The cleaning device of claim 13, wherein the flockedmaterial is arranged directly on the main body.
 19. The cleaning deviceof claim 13, wherein the flocked material is arranged on a layer, thelayer attached to the main body.
 20. The cleaning device of claim 13,further comprising a gripping means arranged on the main body.
 21. Thecleaning device of claim 20, wherein the gripping means is a head havinga receptacle for a handle.
 22. The cleaning device of claim 20, whereinthe gripping means is a retaining strip attached to the main body, theretaining strip configured to be received in a head.
 23. The cleaningdevice of claim 13, wherein the flocked material is configured as anelongated scrubbing edge of the main body.
 24. A set of cleaning toolscomprising: a cleaning device having a foam main body having flockedmaterial allocated thereon, wherein the flocked material is arranged ona surface of the main body, the surface of the main body can be turnedto face the surface to be cleaned; and a dustpan, wherein the dustpan isequipped with the flocked material.
 25. The set of cleaning tools ofclaim 24, wherein the dustpan has a supporting edge on which flockedmaterial is arranged.